The US Ambassador to Israel is advising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start preparing for the day that the US Congress approves the Iran Anti-Nuclear Deal.  Ambassador Dan Shapiro accepts that Netanyahu is vehemently opposed to the accord, but points out Israel is still going to have to cooperate with the US on security matters.

"It is not productive for us just to argue.  We can still begin to prepare for the day after," Shapiro said.  "We will need to work together to deal with Iran so why not prepare for it."

The US Congress has until 17 September to approve the deal, reached after months of negotiations with representatives of the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China.  It's designed to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting international eceonomic sanctions.  President Barack Obama seems confident that he will have enough votes to block an opposition republican attempt to kill the deal.  The latest to come out on Obama's side is Hawaii's Democratic Senator Brian Schatz.

"Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and that is why I support this agreement," Schatz said.

He's backed by 36 retired US Generals and Admirals who signed an open letter released on Tuesday that announces their support of the deal "as the most effective means currently available to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."

 

It goes on to say, "The international deal blocks the potential pathways to a nuclear bomb, provides for intrusive verification, and strengthens American national security."

The signatories include chairmen and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Central Command chiefs.  Retired Navy Rear Admiral Harold L. Robinson is also a rabbi and former naval chaplain.  He explained to teh Washington Post that he signed the letter to show that "those of us who love Israel in the United States are not of one mind and one voice on this matter.  I thought it was important to represent some of the diversity within the American Jewish community."

But Netanyahu has also been working hard to get US lawmakers to oppose it.  Over the weekend, powerful New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, normally an ally of the President, came out against it.  He joins a handful of pro-Israel Democrats whose opposition was expected.

Netanyahu has also allegedly been working hard to stop dissenting voices at home.  Israel's Haarettz Newspaper accuses suppressing the voices of security and intelligence officials who back the Iran Anti-Nuclear Deal.  Some of these include former Mossad head Efraim Halevy, who wrote that Iran was "forced to agree to an invasive and unique monitoring regime, which is unparalleled around the world"; and Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, who said, "When it comes to Iran's nuclear capability, this (deal) is the best option."